UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  agricultural  Experiment  Station 

COLLEGE  OF  AGRICULTURE  E.  J.   WICKSON,   DIRECTOR 

BERKELEY,  CALIFORNIA 


CIRCULAR  No.  66. 

(June,  1911.) 


Insecticides  and  Insect  Control. 

By  H.  J.  Quayle. 


1.  Lime  Sulphur: 

Quicklime,  33  pounds ;  sulphur,  66  pounds ;  water,  200  gallons. 

Sift  sulphur  through  box  with  screen  bottom  into  boiling  tank  with 
50  gallons  of  water.  Add  the  lime  and  boil  45  minutes  to  one  hour. 
Stir  frequently.  Strain  through  cheese  cloth  or  burlap  and  dilute  to 
make  200  gallons.  If  extra  lime  is  desired  strain  in  milk  of  lime  when 
spray  is  ready  for  use. 

2.  Commercial  Lime  Sulphur  : 

If  of  32°  Baume  dilute  1  to  9.     If  36°  dilute  1  to  11. 

Either  of  the  above  for  San  Jose  and  other  armored  scales  to  be 
applied  during  dormant  season,  preferably  in  early  winter  or  early 
spring.    For  Peach  Moth,  as  the  buds  are  expanding  in  the  spring. 

3.  Distillate  28°  to  34°  Baume: 

Distillate,  10  to  20  gallons ;  water,  200  gallons. 

For  use  only  with  power  sprayer  with  good  agitator,  which  is  neces- 
sary to  make  a  mechanical  mixture  of  the  oil  and  water. 

For  the  Brown  Apricot,  Black,  and  other  unarmored  scales,  and  for 
Woolly  Aphis,  to  be  applied  during  dormant  season,  preferably  in  early 
winter. 

4.  Distillate  Potash  : 

Distillate     10  gallons 

Lye  or  caustic  soda 5  pounds 

Water    200  gallons 

Preparation  and  uses  same  as  under  3.  Has  the  advantage  of  freeing 
tree  from  moss. 

5.  Distillate  Emulsion  : 

Stock  emulsion. 

Hot  water 12  gallons 

-    Fish  oil   (see  10)  or  whale-oil  soap 30  pounds 

Distillate  30°    to  34° 20  gallons 


—  2  — 

Add  soap  to  hot  water  in  spray  tank  with  agitator  going.    After  soap 
is  dissolved  add  oil  slowly,  keeping  mixture  agitated.    Pump  out  through 
nozzle  at  175  pounds  pressure  in  storage  tank. 
For  use  take: 

Stock  emulsion 11  gallons 

Blackleaf  40 1  pint 

Water    ___, 200  gallons 

Place  oil  emulsion  in  spray  tank,  start  agitator  and  add  the  water. 
When  diluted  add  the  Blackleaf. 

For  thrips,  Black  Peach  Aphis,  and  other  plant  lice. 

6.  Kerosene  Emulsion  : 

Dissolve  £  pound  soap  in  1  gallon  hot  water ;  add  1  gallon  kerosene. 

Mix  thoroughly  with  spray  pump  by  turning  nozzle  back  into  mixture. 

a.  For  plant  lice  and  other  sucking  insects  during  growing  season, 
dilute  with  15  to  25  gallons  water. 

o.  For  scale  insects,  Woolly  Aphis  and  other  sucking  insects  during 
dormant  season,  dilute  with  5  to  10  gallons  water. 

For  use  on  small  scale  with  hand  sprayer. 

6a.  Kerosene  Emulsion.    Kitchen  formula: 

Dissolve  1  inch  cube  soap  in  1  pint  hot  water ;  add  1  pint  kerosene.     Churn 
with  egg  beater. 

For  growing  plants,  dilute  to  2  or  3  gallons  water.  For  dormant 
plants,  1  gallon. 

7.  Miscible  Oils  : 

Commercial  preparations  of  oil  so  treated  as  to  mix  directly  with 
water.  Follow  directions  on  container.  Uses  same  as  3,  4,  5,  6,  8,  9, 
and  10. 

8.  Straight  Kerosene  or  Water  White  Oil: 

Water  white  oil   (42°  Bauine)   or  kerosene 20  gallons 

Water    200  gallons 

In  use  for  scale  insects  of  citrus  trees. 
Application  by  power  outfit.    See  Bulletin  214. 

9.  Soap  Solution: 

Soap,  1  pound ;  water,  5  to  15  gallons. 
Whale-oil  or  fish-oil  soap  preferable,  but  for  small  amounts  any  yellow 
laundry  soap  will  answer. 

For  plant  lice  and  other  sucking  insects  during  summer. 


—  3  — 

9a.  Soap  Solution.    Kitchen  formula: 

1|  inch  cube  soap. 
1  gallon  warm  water. 

10.  Homemade  Soap  : 

Water    6     gallons 

Lye  (98%)   2     pounds 

Fish  oil 1%  gallons 

Add  lye  to  water  in  boiler.  When  dissolved  and  water  boiling,  pour 
in  the  fish  oil,  stirring  in  mean  time,  and  boil  slowly  for  two  hours.  This 
will  give  about  40  pounds  soap. 

For  use  dilute  with  5  to  15  gallons  water  for  each  pound. 

For  same  pests  as  No.  9. 

11.  Tobacco  or  Nicotine  : 

a.  Blackleaf  40  (40%  nicotine) 1  pint 

Water 200  gallons 

6.  Tobacco   stems   1  pound 

Water 4  gallons 

Steep  stems  in  1  gallon  warm  water  and  dilute  to  4  gallons. 

For  plant  lice  and  other  sucking  insects  during  growing  season.  For 
Woolly  Aphis  and  Peach  Aphis  underground.  A  liberal  solution,  or 
the  dry  dust  in  early  winter,  about  the  base  of  the  tree,  the  surface  soil 
first  being  removed. 

12.  Tobacco  Soap  : 

Blackleaf  40  1  pound   (1/10  gal.) 

Cresol  soap 1  gallon 

or 

Whale-oil   soap 10  pounds 

Water 200  gallons 

The  cresol  soap  requires  no  heating. 

Uses  same  as  11.    Penetrating  and  wetting  power  better. 

13.  Lime  Sulphur  Tobacco  : 

Commercial  lime  sulphur  36° 2.1  gallons 

Blackleaf  40 14      iluidounces 

Water 200      gallons 

For  Orange  Thrips. 

14.  Carbolic  Lime  : 

Quicklime 150  pounds 

Crude    carbolic    acid 2  gallons 

Water 200  gallons 

For  Pear  Thrips. 


15.  Sulphur  : 

a.  Dry.     Thoroughly    dust    over    foliage,    preferably    when    moist   with    dew. 

Hydrated  lime  about  equal  parts  with  sulfur  will  increase  adhesiveness. 
6.  Spray.     Sulfur,  30  pounds;  lime  (as  milk  of  lime),  15  pounds;  water,  200 

gallons. 
c.  Spray.     Commercial  lime  sulphur,  4  to  5  gallons ;  water,  200  gallons. 

For  Red  Spiders  and  Silver  Mite.  See  Bulletin  154. 

16.  Lead  Arsenate:  - 

Lead  arsenate 6  to  12  fcuHuuy^E^ti 

Water    200  gallon/ 

First  mix  arsenate  with  2  or  3  gallons  of  water. 

For  Codling  Moth  and  most  defoliating  insects. 
16a.  Lead  Arsenate.    Kitchen  formula: 

Lead  arsenate 1  tablespoonful    (1  oz.) 

Water   1  gallon 

17.  Paris  Green  : 

Paris  green 1J  to  2  pounds 

Water    200  gallons 

For  Codling  Moth  and  most  defoliating  insects. 

Not  to  be  used  along  coast  or  moist  situations  where  injury  is  likely 
to  result  to  foliage. 

17a.  Paris  Green.    Kitchen  formula: 

Paris  green 1  teaspoonful   (i  oz.) 

Lime 3  teaspoonfuls 

Water 2  gallons 

18.  Zinc  Arsenite  : 

Zinc  arsenite 2  to  6  Swllsno ^J^li/l 

Water 200  gallons' 

A  powerful  poison  for  resistant  insects,  as  the  Tussock  Moth,  or  for 
early  spraying  for  Canker  Worm  and  Codling  Moth  in  the  dry  interior 
climates. 

19a.  Poisoned  Bait.     Kitchen  formula: 

Bran 10  pounds 

Paris  green 1  pound 

or 

White  arsenic i  pound 

Molasses    i  gallon 

Water    2  gallons 

Mix  paris  green  with  the  bran  dry.  Add  the  molasses  to  the  water 
and  mix  into  the  bran,  making  a  moist  paste. 


For  Cut  Worms  and  Grasshoppers,  distribute  a  small  handful  about 
the  base  of  the  vine  or  tree,  or  scatter  about  plants  in  the  garden.  May 
be  distributed  broadcast  for  Grasshoppers  and  Army  Worms.  See  Bul- 
letin 192,  p.  123. 

19a.  Poisoned  Bait.  Kitchen  formula: 

Bran    1  quart 

Paris  green 1  teaspoonful 

Molasses    1  teaspoonful 

20.  Tree  Barriers  : 
a.  Tree  Tanglefoot: 

A  strip  a  few  inches  wide  surrounding  the  tree  trunk  placed  in  the 
fall  and  tended  during  winter  to  prevent  the  ascent  of  the  Canker  Worm 
Moth.  Placed  in  Hop  Vines  to  prevent  ascent  of  Hop  Flea  Beetle.  To 
bar  Argentine  Ants  or  most  other  insects  that  reach  the  foliage  by 
crawling  only. 

o.  Cotton  Bands: 

A  strip  four  inches  wide  tied  about  the  tree  trunk  at  the  lower  edge, 
and  the  top  then  -pulled  down  over  the  string  is  in  use  against  Fuller 's 
Rose  Beetle  on  the  orange.    See  Bulletin  214. 

c.  Mosquito  Wire  Netting  similarly  applied  is  also  in  use  against  the 
Canker  Worm. 

d.  Asphaltum:    . 

A  strip  6  to  8  inches  wide  painted  about  base  of  tree  trunk  to  pre- 
vent the  entrance  of  the  Peach-Tree  Borer. 

21.  Ground  Barriers  : 

A  deep  furrow  with  straight  side  next  to  the  field  to  be  protected  will 
stop  the  progress  of  Army  Worms.  Holes  8  or  10  inches  deep  and  20  or 
30  feet  apart  may  be  dug  in  the  furrow.  The  worms  upon  falling  in 
these  may  be  killed  by  pouring  in  a  small  amount  of  gasoline  and  throw- 
ing in  a  lighted  match,  or  oil,  hot  water,  or  other  means  as  seems  desir- 
able.   See  Bulletin  192,  p.  127. 

22.  Carbon  Bisulphide  : 

For  treatment  of  stored  products  and  underground  insects. 
Usual  dosage,  1  pint  to  1,000  cubic  feet  space. 

Place  liquid  in  saucers  or  shallow  vessels  above  material  to  be  treated. 
Inflammable;  avoid  lights. 

For  underground  insects,  a  tablespoonful  in  holes  3  or  4  feet  apart. 


—  6  — 

23.  Hydrocyanic  Acid  Gas  : 

Potassium  cyanide 1  ounce.^—     f 

Sulphuric  acid 3«-miiaounces 

Water    3  fluidounces 

Place  water  and  acid  in  earthenware  vessel  and  add  cyanide.  To  be 
used  under  tents  or  tight  rooms  or  boxes. 

For  fumigating  buildings  or  nursery  stock,  1  ounce  of  cyanide  to  each 
100  cubic  feet  for  1  hour. 

For  scale  insects  on  citrus  trees,  maximum  or  Purple  Scale  dosage 
found  by  multiplying  distance  around  by  distance  over  top  of  tented 
tree  and  pointing  off  two  places.    Example : 

Distance  around  Distance  over 

40  feet  X  20  feet  =  8  ounces  cyanide 

For  Red  or  Black  Scale,  reduce  one  quarter.    Example : 

Distance  around  Distance  over 

40  feet  X  20  feet  =  8.  —  i  =  6  ounces  cyanide 

See  Bulletin  152,  and  Circulars  11  and  50. 

24.  Resin  Dipping  Solution  : 

Resin   20  pounds 

Caustic  soda  or  lye 8  pounds 

Fish  oil 3  pints 

Water 100  gallons 

Boil  resin  and  caustic  soda  in  50  gallons  of  water  for  1  hour.  Dilute 
to  100  gallons. 

In  use  for  dipping  citrus  nursery  stock  for  scale  insects  and  Red 
Spiders. 

Kerosene  emulsion  and  Lime  sulphur  solution  also  used  for  dipping 
deciduous  nursery  stock. 

25.  Kerosene  or  Crude  Oil: 

A  thin  film  spread  over  the  surface  of  a  mosquito-breeding  pool  or 
container  will  destroy  the  wrigglers.  For  large  scale  work,  the  cheaper 
crude  oil  may  be  used  and  evaporation  will  occur  less  rapidly.  Four 
parts  of  heavy  oil  18°  to  1  part  light  oil  30°  to  35°  gravity  will  spray 
readily  from  nozzles.  Drainage  or  other  permanent  work  should  have 
precedence  over  temporary  treatments.    See  Bulletin  178. 

26.  Pyrethrum  or  Buhach  : 

Fresh  material  dusted  around  floors  and  walls  will  reduce  the  num- 
ber of  fleas  and  other  household  insects. 


—  7  — 

27.  Formalin  : 

A  5  per  cent  solution  of  formaldehyde  sweetened  with  sugar  and 
placed  in  shallow  vessels  makes  a  satisfactory  fly  poison. 

Proper  disposal  of  manure  and  garbage,  however,  is  the  basis  for 
house-fly  control. 

See  Bulletin  215. 

28.  Ant  Poison  : 

Syrup  containing  between  J  and  -J  of  one  per  cent  arsenic.  A  sponge 
saturated  with  the  arsenic  solution  and  placed  in  a  small  fruit  jar  with 
perforated  cover  should  be  placed  where  the  ants  frequent.  Carbon 
bisulphide  may  be  applied  to  the  nests  in  the  ground.  See  Bulletin  207, 
p.  81. 


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